Device for studying finger psiktts and their- classification



G. WILLIAMS. DEVICE FOR STUDYING FINGER PRINTS AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION:

APPLICATION FILED `IAN. 24, 1922.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

IIII I ..III\YI u III -zII III @www/woz IIII" IIIIII 35%@ www www@ G. WILLIAMS. DEVICE FOR STUDYING FINGER PRINTS AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 24, 1922.

l A@ 5p l 57 Pmente Aug. 8, T1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I PRoPRIEToR BYfIffJQ. ATTO GRANT WLLIAMS, OFVPATCHOGUE, NEN YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented fituge 8., i922.

Application Ied January 24, 1922. Serial No. 531,456.

T 0 all cli/10m 'it may Coface/Mi.'

Bev it known that l, Gmini* VILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Patchogue, in the county of Suffolk and State of New -York, have invented certain new and useful Devices for Studying F inger Prints and Their Classification, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore, it has been difficult to study finger prints and especially the method of classifying and filing such prints, a subject which is of increasing importance because of the adoption of the finger print system of identification by many police organizations and other bodies. The object of my inven`v tion is to provide a simple and effective device by means of which instructors may teach the study and classification of finger prints, by which students may become familiar with these subjects, andwhich may also be used by experienced classifiers in their worl By means of the present device every possible combination of linger prints can be reproduced. By this l do not mean that every individual design of every finger rint can be reproduced, but with sets of representative prints every possible combination falling within any of the known classification systems can be reproduced and the student or experienced operator can quickly determine from it the particular place in which any set of finger prints is to be filed in a classification file; or the place in a classification file where any set of finger prints should be found. The present device is not only useful to the instructor and student but it is also useful 'to classifier and searcher because time can be saved by its use and in many cases errors may be avoided.

With the present device it is possible to reproduce any combination of finger prints falling within any general class and also those falling within every known sub-class The device comprises in part a chart bearing therepresentation of a pair of human hands, together with pictorial representations of specimen linger prints adapted to be associated with the chart so that the specimens or fac-similes will bear the same relation that they do on the human hands and in addition, I provide suitable indicia for Aclassification purposes.

ln the drawings forming part of this application, y

Figure l is a plan view of the chart opened up for use,

Figure 2 is an end view thereof with the strips removed,

Figure 3 is a side view thereof, Y

Figure 4 is a plan view with the top cover removed,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4,

Figure' 7 is a face view of one of the strips.

The invention may take various forms but the essential features are the chart representing the human hands and the members bearing representations orL fac-similes of finger prints which may be associated with the chart in various combinations corresponding with any known speciinen ofy linger prints or any hypothetical set of linger prints. y

ln the drawings l have shown by way of illustration of one form of my invention, a chart member l in the form of a folder or book which. is always ready for use, This comprises the members 2 and 3 hinged along their meeting edges 4 so that they may be folded one upon the other. These members are preferably made of sheet material such as cardboard, pressed board or fibroid and 'they may be covered with leather or cloth onl their outer surfaces like the covers of a book. I have here shown these members as consisting of sheets of cardboard 5 or other material having` an exterior covering of cloth 6 and they are hinged together so that they may be closed like a book or opened to expose their inner surfaces in 4 contiguous relation. There are dividing strips .7 attached to one surface of the back members 5 land on the upper edges of these are attached the top members 8. These several parts may be secured together by glue or in any other manner. This construction forms a number of parallel. rectangular pockets or chambers 9, extending vertically or up and down in relation to the chart.

Upon the face members 8 of the chart there are formed either by printing, lithographing, embossing or otherwise, the representations or outlines of a pair of humanA hands. At tl e left have shown the representation or outline l0 representing the right hand; and the hand is here illustrated as if the user of the chart were looking at the back of the hand. At the right and on the member 3 l have shown the representation or outline of a left hand ll positioned as if the user of the chart were looking at the palm of the hand. The reason for reversing the hands in this manner is because vin classifying* fin'g'ei" prints the little finger v tion they are numbered 18 to 22 from left to right, These cut youts ory openingsare of sufiicientsize vto correspond with the end joints of the several fingers and lthumbs in order` that the `'full patterns of the several openings. ,l v

In each channel 9 I have arranged an endless strip 23 which may bemadeyofiib're7 celluloid or other pliable material. These stripsare formedv endless like a belt and at the top of the .chart they loop around a strip 24 extending across the members 2 and 3 having` their ends fastened thereto. The loops 25 at the oppositev or lower ends yof the chart passaround similar strips `*2G and preferably thisrloop is sufliciently long to project below the edge of the chart where it may be manipulated to move; the strip to bring I any one 'of the Sample finger prints there- CIK en in line withfone of the finger openings; There will be one of these strips for each rfinger and thumb of both hands represented on Athe chart,I making ten in all and they align with the several apertures 13,-17, 18h22. y

These several strips are all alike so that a description of one will apply to all. In FigureA 7 Ilhave shown a face view of that portion of the strip which bears the finger print fac-similes or examples. The several facsimiles are arranged in a verticalrow lengthwise of the strip and while their order ofarrangement'may be varied I prefer the arrangement shown.y At 27 `for instance, I have shown an enlarged fac-simile of a ringer `print of the type or pattern known as an ulnar loop. Below this I have shown a fac-simile28 of the pattern known as `a radial loop.

below this is the fac-simile 30 of the pattern of a tented arch. Next below this is finger prints may be exposed through these Y l Next below thisis a fac-simile y -29V of a pattern known as an arch. Next pocket. Next below this is a fac-simile 35 of a patternv called a lateral pocket. Next below this is a fac-simile 36 of a pattern 'called a 'twin loop. "Next below this is a fac-simile 37 of a pattern called an accidental. Below this is a blank 38 v,denoting anpamputationpand is used to indicate that v a finger or thumb'is missing.

It will be apparent that by manipulating one of the strips 23 any one of the above mentioned patterns maybe brought to register with the opening 13. In like manner each of the other strips may be manipulated to'bring any individual pattern to register with any of the several finger openings.

@n the chart there are markings designating the groupings of the several fingers and thumbs into pairs corresponding lwith the Henry .system rof classification. Forfin stance, the llettering` 39 indicates that the thumb and forefinger ofthe right hand coinprise lthe rst pair; the middle finger' and ring finger of the same hand form the 'sec- Y ond pair 'g the little finger of the same hand and the thur'nbof the left hand formthe third pair 5' the first `finger and middle finger ofthe left hand form the fourth paire; and f the ring finger and the little 'finger of the v left hand form the fifth pair ,11n the primary classification 'of finger prints the'ngers in the several pairs have different numerical values in what is known as the Henry system.. @nly ivhorls and composites are given a numerical value in this classification and their numerical 'values are indicated on the chart. For instance, where a whorl or composite appears inthe first pair it has the numerical value y16, as is indicated at 40. y ene appearsin the second pair itk has the value o'f as indicated at el. In like manner 1 have designated at yfk-2, ,Z13 and 114. the values Li, 2 and l, for the third, fourth 'and fifth pairs. v

In this system. of classification certain gers (one in each pair) are designated fer a denominator and others (one in each pair) are designated for a numerator in a fraction. At 45y 1 have 'designated the thumb, middle and little'fingers of the right hand as "denmin'ators, these 'beingv the first 'finn gers of theirrespectivepairs; and at 46 1 have designated the index linger andfrin'g` lation to this `hand and tothe ulnar and radial bones from which they'take their names. The marks 51 indicate the directions of these loops and the names of the loops appear at 52. In like manner l have indicated at 53 and the directions of the ulnar and radial loops in association with the left hand. At 55 I have shown the pattern of a small finger print of the right hand and indicated by the arrow 56 the method of counting ridge loops on this iinger. At 571 have shown the method of tracing whorls to determine whether a particular whorl is to be classified as lan inner, outer or meet whorl, as now practiced.

ln using the device the student may be given a hypothetical combination of finger prints to classify or he may examine the fingers of a known person and then set up a combination corresponding therewith and determine the classificationv of the combination both as to the primary classification and every known sub-classification. The user may start by moving` the strip associated with the right thumb to bring a pattern to register with the aperture 13 corresponding with the righthand thumb pattern of the example to be copied, i. e., of the hand of the person being examined or the hypothetical example given the student. This pattern will not necessarily be an actual print of a human thumb or finger but merely an arbitrary pattern. The user will then proceed to do the same with all the other strips, bringing patterns to register with the several apertures to correspond with the different fingers of the hands under consideration, When the strips 23 have all been adjusted to reproduce the desired combination the student then proceeds to classify the set of finger prints of the combination.

The primary classification.y represented as fraction, will first be determined as follows: For the denominator the student will ascertain whether a whorl or a composite pattern appears in the thumb aperture 13, this'being the first finger l(thumb) of the first. pair. lf a whorl or composite appears here it' will have the numerical value 16, because this is the designated value for the first pair. The student then examines the pattern at the apertureI 15 of the right hand middle linger and if this 'is a whorl or composite itI has the numerical value of 8 and this is added to the 16 and he has 9A. He then ascertains whether a whorl or composite pattern 'appears at the aperture 17 on the little finger of the right hand; and if so, he adds the numerical value i to the previously obtained Q4, making 2S. He then does the same with the aperture 19 of the fore finger of the left hand'and if a whorl. or composite' appears here he adds 2 to the 28, .making 30; He then determines if a whorl or composite pattern appears at aperture 210it the ring finger of the left hand and if so, he adds the numerical value 1,

making` a total of 31. He then adds, arbitrarily, the numeral 1, making a total of 39 which is the highest denominator in the primary classification under the Henry system, which is the one used in this description; although the device is not limited in its use to any one system.

lf whorls or composites had not appeared at any of the denominator finger openings in the above reading the total would have been correspondingly less because in this primary classification only whorls and composites are considered or have a numerical value. lf there were no whorls or composites in any of the denominator fingers the calculation would be 0 but to every total the numeral 1 is added arbitrarily in order that combinations entirely lacking in whorls or composites in the denominator and numerator will come in the first compartment of a filing cabinetl and be separate from others, to be selected from each other by sub-classifications.

rllhe student may then proceed to determine the numerator of the fraction. He first determines whether aI whorl or composite pattern appears in the aperture 1e of the fore finger of the right hand (the first numeratof7 finger) and if one is found here it has the value 16. lf a whorl or composite appears in the aperture 16 of the right hand ring finger it has the numerical value 8 which is added to the 16 and this makes 24E. rfhe same course is followed with regard to the left hand thumb aperture 18,' index aperturefQ/O and little finger aperture 22, adding the respective `numerical values if whorls or composites appear in any of these. To the total is arbitrarily added ther numeral 1. The fraction is then written down thus7 According to the combination,1 the fraction may have from 1 to 32 for a numerator and from 1 to 32 for a denominator, and thus will determine in which compartment of a filing cabinet thecombination of finger: prints under examination is to be llGCl.

For subclassification the student examines the forefinger aperture 14E of the right hand on the chart and ascertains whether the pattern here is radial or ulnar loop, a whorl or composite, an arch or tented arch, he places a representative letter such as A for an arch,r T for tented arch, U for ulnar loop and R for radial loop, down as the numera tor of a fraction. if the fore finger and middle finger of this hand have the same kind of pattern (a pair) as where both are ulnar loops then both are indicated in the numerator, thus U. U. tf there is awhorl in the right fore finger aperture then the student determines whether it is an inner, outer or meet whorl according to well known methods, and in that case he places an l, and M or an O, for the numerator to signify not only that this linger has a Whorl pattern but also its kind, i. el, either inner,.outer or meet. 1t is not necessary to describe here the method of determining the type of 5- Whorls'as itis Well understood and in extensive use today. (See 57.) The student then examines the fac-similes in the left hand fore linger aperture 19 andfif 'it is an inner, outer or vmeet Whorl, (including composites) an arch, tented arch, ulnar or radial loop he places Va correspondingxletter in the denominator of the fraction. lf the pattern on the fore finger andmiddle finger ofthis hand are alike, thus constituting a pair, the letter is used twice. An example of such a Uil The would mean that there are ulnarI loops in the fore and middle lingers vof the right hand and inner and meet Whorls in the fore and middle fingers of the left hand, andthis would determine the yposition of the specimen under consideration in the sub-classification.v

The final classification is' obtained by counting the ridges of the little finger of the right Ihand, as indicated at 59 inthe drawing. A straight line drawn from the delta G to the inner terminus of the loop 61 bisects certain ridges62 and by counting these ridgesv the .final classification number is found.' (The outer or inner termini are not counted). In the example shown, the ridge count is 14. If there is no loop in the little finger of the right'hand the ridge count is simply` omitted; but it is not necessary to here go into every phase .of classification, especially as the methods may differ iny some respects.

. All in the one over lone primary classification it is apparent, will have no- Whorls or composites in either hand and in that `case the lettered series is resorted to for a subclassiiication of all specimens in this main or primary class. For this the student uses the foreiinger of both hands as the fulcrum and the letters for these are capitals Whereas, the others are in small letters placed before or after the capital according to the finger position. The letters from the right hand reading are used as a numerator and those of the left hand asa denominator. lffthe pattern of the forelinger of the right hand is a tented arch then the capital letter T is placed in the numerator. .lf the right thumb pattern isvan' arch a small a is placed. to the `left of the T (in lthe numerator); lf tho middlelinger pattern isv a radial. loop, a small r is placedto the ri ght of the T. lf the and little lingers of this hand both'have archesthenQn is placed to the right offthe abovemal ing the numerator e, T, r, 2a. The student then passes to the left hand for the denominator.'` The fore linger may be a radial loop and then It, is 'placed t5v in the denominator.' lf -thethumb pattern fraction mighty be thus isa tented archzgis placed tothe left of lf the middle, ring and littlefingers of this hand are all arches 3a, vvillibe placed after R, thus making the denominatorgt,

n, sa.

the right hand is employedforrthe nal classification, the same as described above.

lt will be apparentthat every combination of ngerprints can be reproduced onY the device With the specimenpatterns and` from these every classificatiom including primary,sub-class and final, can be made ac- The ridge counting onthelittlefinger of;

cording` tofpresent .systems of classification or any Tvhichf may be hereafter evolved..

Having descritta@ invention, what;

claim is,

1. A device of the class ide/scribed, comprising a chart having thereon .the representations of the Lhuman hands, and movable devices vfor producing in association With said chart, various combinations representing linger printpatterns,

VE2. A device of the class describedicomprising a chart havingl thereon the repre,-

senta-tions of the vhuman hands, and movable devices having finger .print patterns thereon and adapted to be associated vWith said chart to produce various combinations koffrpatterns representing finger fprints.

prising a chartv havingv thereon the representations of the human hands, and movable devices' each having a series of .fingerprint patterns thereon andadapted to Vbemoved in relation to lsaid chart Vto produce various combinations of patterns-on the fingertips of said hand representations, ycorresponding A y .95 `3. A device of the class described comion With actual or` hypothetical linger print` combinations. i i

4f. A device of the class described comprising a chart having thereonthe representations .of the human hands, and having apertures in the linger tip portions of .said hands, and movable devices leach having a series ofiinger print patterns thereonadaptizo apertures in the finger tip portions of said f hands, and movable devices each havingI a series of finger print patterns thereon adapted to be individually brought intoregister with the respective apertures 'to produce various combinations vof patterns corre-v sponding with actual or hypothetical finger print combinations.

iso

6. A device of the cla-ss described comprising achart having thereon the representations of the human hands arranged to show the back of the right hand at the left of the chart and the palm of the left hand at the right of the chart, whereby the right hand little linger and the left hand thumb will appear following each other on the chart, and movable devices for producing in association with said chart various combinations representing finger print patterns.

7. A device of the class described comprising a chart having thereon the representations of the human hands arranged to show the back of the right hand at the left of the chart and the palm of the left hand at the right of the chart, whereby the right hand little finger and the left hand thumb will appear following each other on the chart` said chart having indicia grouping adjacent lingers in pairs, and movable devices for producing in association with said chart various combina-tions representing linger print patterns.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a chart having spaced walls one of which is provided with the representations of the human hands and having apertures .in the finger tip portions thereof, a movable member between said walls for each linger aperture and each having a series of linger print patterns adapted to be individually brought into register with the respective apertures.

Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 17 day of January, 1922.

GRANT WLLIAMS. 

